Apparatus for winding



Oct. 30,'1951 E. K. BAUER APPARATUS FOR WINDING Filed April 6, 1946INVENTOR. ERNEST K. BAUER BY 'l A Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED STA'EEPATENT OFFICE APIPARATUS FOR WINDING Ernest K. Bauer, Meadville, Pa.,assigner to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a

corporation of Delaware 18 Claims.

The present invention is concerned with methods and apparatus forwinding and has as its main object maintaining a uniform pressure on thewinding periphery during the winding operation.

While it has heretofore been suggested to maintain such a uniformpressure by using either a pneumatic or hydraulic fluid-pressure means,the devices of the prior art had the disadvantage that if a slightdistortion'at some part of the periphery of the winding, such as abulge, occurred, the fluid-pressure device would tend to vibrate as aresult of allowing the pressure element to be moved outwardly from theaxis of the winding at the position of the bulge and then to returntoward the axis of the winding as it left the bulge. During high speedwinding, the fluctuations of the pressure elements that result fromhitting one or more such bulges about the periphery, tends to causechattering or vibration and an unsatisfactory winding in spite of thetendency of the fluid-pressure means to maintain a constant pressureagainst the winding.

It is the main object of the present invention to avoid suchiluctuations of the pressure element and in doing so, it has been foundthat a more satisfactory winding is obtained, any localized bulgesoccurring during the winding being more or less subdued rather thanaccentuated by the improved operation in accordance with the invention.Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedrawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing, which is illustrative of the preferred embodiment forcarrying out the invention- Figure 1 is a side elevation with partsbroken away of a beamer to which the invention has been applied, and

Figure 2 is a plan View of the beamer as shown in Figure 1.

In general, the present invention involves winding a material, such asone or more yarns; which may or may not be traversed relative to therotatable element upon which winding occurs, while maintaining apressure roller against the periphery of the winding and controlling thepressure of the roller by fluid means. The pressure roller is displacedoutwardly from the axis of the winding element during winding by virtueof the increase in diameter thereof but the pressure roller is notallowed to return toward the axis of the winding element at any timeduring the Winding thereof. If there is any slight bulge of the win-dingperiphery, such bulge displaces the pressure roller from the axis of thewinding element and the fact that it is a bulge tends to make thedisplacement slightly greater than the properly laid portion of thewinding which is unbulged. However, this tendency to greaterdisplacement is counteracted to a certain extent by the inertia of thepressure roller so that the bulge tends to be minimized by compaction ofthe pressure roller. However, after the bulged portion has turned pastthe pressure roller, the pressure roller is not allowed to returntoward'the axis of the winding element, so that the balance of the nextconvolution is allowed to be compacted to a slightly less extent thanordinary to compensate for the different diameters of the bulged andunbulged portions. By such a winding procedure, the bulges cannot beaccentuated but tend to be evened out and a more satisfactory finalpackage is obtained.

As shown in the drawing, the invention is applied to a beamer to which asheet of yarns is fed, such as from a creel. When winding a warp sheet,there is generally no traverse applied to the yarns. However, theinvention is also applicable to the winding of a single yarn whiletraversing the yarn back and forth axially of the package. It is, ofcourse, applicable also to the winding of two or more yarns side by sideby traversing them. It may also be used in machines for Winding fabrics,sheets, such as of paper or cellophane, etc.

With reference to Figures l and 2, the rotatable winding element 2 isconstituted of a warp beam. This beam is mounted with its axis 3rotatable in suitable bearing elements 4 carried on the frame 5. Apressure roller 6 has trunnions 1 mounted rotatably in the plates 8 of ayoke carried by the twoside rods 9. This yoke pivots about an axis I0,and one or more rods Il (two being shown), coupled to the cross bar I2of the yoke for the pressure roller 5 by means of pivotal joints I3, areconnected to pistons I-i operating in cylinders I5.

The pressure in the cylinders back of pistons I4 which urges thepressure roller 6 against the periphery of the winding may be derivedfrom a uid contained in tanks i6 which are connected to the back end ofthe cylinders by means of conduits Il. The pressure of the fluid withinthe tanks I6 may be controlled by means of a regulating or reducingvalve I8 in a line I9 connecting the tanks It to a source of highpressure fluid. The line I9 is connected to two branches 20 leading tothe tanks I6. While the fluid contained in tanks it may be liquid, suchas oil, it is preferably a gas, such as air, for reasons which will beexplained more completely hereinafter.

The cylinder ends near the pressure roll are connected by lines 2l tothe bottom of a reservoir tank 22 which contains a check valve 24 and aby-pass line 25 containing a valve 2B.

Because of the swinging motion of the pressure roll support, thecylinders l5 are mounted for pivotal motion about axis 21 and the linesI'I and 2l are of flexible material, such as rubber of syntheticrubbers.

Suitable means is provided for driving the winding element, and as shownthis may comprise a motor 28, a reduction gear 29, shaft 38, sprocket3|, chain 32, and sprocket 33 secured to shaft 3.

The yarns Y to be wound pass over a guide, such as roller 34, which mayor may not be traversed, to the region near the nip of the pressure rollwith the winding periphery, i. e. adjacent the position of accretion.

The operation may be described as follows: In starting position the beam2 is practically empty and the pressure roll 6 is urged into contactwith the first turn of winding by virtue of displacement of pistons Idto the extreme right as viewed in Figure l. In this position, thepressure back of pistons Ill is maintained at the desired value by thereducing valve I8. As stated heretofore, it is preferable to use tank l5as an air dome or accumulator, but one could also have a liquid supplywithin tank Iii suflicient to more than completely ll the portion of thecylinder back of piston Ill when the elements are in their startingposition as just described. When operating with a liquid in tank I6, itmay be desirable to connect the top of tanks I to a supply of compressedair or other gaseous medium rather than a compressed liquid for thepurpose of maintaining the pressure on the system. By using compressedair whether or not it works upon a volume of liquid extending into theregions of the cylinders back of pistons It, the assembly may havesomewhat the action of a dashpot and the inertia exerted by the system.in resisting the compressive force exerted by the piston when thepressure roll strikes a sudden bulge, tends to flatten the bulge. I1 theliquid supply in tanks IS were to be omitted and merely a gaseous mediumprovided, any dashpot effect would be negligible. Of course, it ispossible to have the entire system back of pistons III lled with liquid.rIhis applies to the cylinders, lines l'i, tanks I5, lines 2l! and I9.This would cause the exertion of a maximum force of inertia tending toreduce any sudden bulges.

At the start of operation, with the pistons I4 at the extreme right ofcylinders i5, valve 26 is closed and a check valve 23 allows liquid toflow by gravity from the tank 22 into the right ends of the cylinders tokeep the space in front of the pistons Ill constantly filled withliquid. 'Since liquid is non-compressible the piston can only move inone direction away from beam.

As winding proceeds, the pressure roll 6 swings and causes piston I4 tomove back in the cylinder. This occurs under substantially constantpressure controlled by the regulating valve I8 and liquid flows into theright ends of cylinders I5 to keep these ends full of liquid constantly.In case the pressure roll rides over a bulge or high spot in thewinding, the fluid back of pistons I4 tends to reduce the bulge byvirtue of inertia and by virtue of the fact that the liquid must owthrough the conduits I'I. After leaving the high spot, the pressure rollcannot return because of the fact that the right ends of cylinders I5are full of liquid and the check valve closes against the return of.liouid to tank 22. As explained hereinabove, this evens out the windingconvolutions and produces a more satisfactory package.

When the winding is completed, the beam 2 can be replaced with an emptybeam and pressure rolls 6 may be returned merely by opening the valve26. This by-passes the liquid around the check valve so that pistons I4return to the right end of the cylinders under the pressure derived fromthe reducing valve I8.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened in theappended claims. 4

I claim:

1. In a winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a rotatable pressure roller adapted to bear against thewinding periphery, means for mounting the element and roller forrelative movement to vary the distance between their axes, constantpressure uid means for urging the roller periphery against the Windingperiphery, and hydraulic means for preventing relative movement of theroller and element toward each other during displacement by virtue ofincreasing diameter of winding on the rotatable element.

2. In a winding machine, a rota-table element for receiving a windingthereabout, a rotatable pressure roller adapted to bear against thewinding periphery, means for mounting the element and roller forrelative movement to vary the distance between their axis, constantpressure pneumatic means for urging the roller periphery against thewinding periphery, and hydraulic means for preventing relative movementof the roller and element toward each other during displacement byvirtue of increasing diameter of winding on the rotatable element.

3. In a winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a rotatable pressure roller adapted to bear against thewinding periphery, means for mounting the element and roller forrelative movement to vary the distance between their axes, constantpressure hydraulic means for urging the roller periphery against thewinding periphery, and hydraulic means for preventing relative movementof the roller and element toward each other during displacement byvirtue of increasing diameter of winding on the rotatable element.

4. In a winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a rotatable pressure roller, means for movably mounting theroller, constant pressure iiuid means for urging the roller peripheryagainst the winding periphery of the rotatable element, and hydraulicmeans for preventing return movement of the pressure roller during itsdisplacement by virtue of increasing diameter of winding on therotatable element.

5. In a winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a rotatable pressure roller, means for movably mounting theroller, constant pressure pneumatic means for urging the rollerperiphery against the winding periphery of the rotatable element, andhydraulic means for preventing return movement of the pressure rollerduring its displacement by virtue of increasing diameter of winding onthe rotatable element.

6. In a winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a rotatable pressure roller adapted to bear against thewinding periphery adjacent the position of accretion, means for movablymounting the roller, constant pressure hydraulic means for urging theroller periphery against the winding periphery of the rotatable element,and hydraulic means for preventing return movement of the pressureroller during its displacement by virtue of increasing diameter ofwinding on the rotatable element.

7. In a winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a support, mounting means pivotally connected to thesupport, a pressure roller mounted rotatably in the mounting meanswhereby the pressure roller is swingable toward and away from theelement, constant pressure iluid means for urging the roller peripheryagainst the winding periphery of the rotatable element, and hydraulicmeans for preventing return movement of the pressure roller during itsdisplacement by virtue of increasing diameter of winding on therotatable element.

8. In a winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a rotatable pressure roller, means for swingably mountingthe roller, constant pressure pneumatic means for urging the rollerperiphery against the winding periphery of the rotatable element, andhydraulic means for preventing return movement of the pressure rollerduring its displacement by virtue of increasing diameter of winding onthe rotatable element.

9. In a Winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a movably mounted pressure roller adapted to bear againstthe winding periphery adjacent the position of accretion, a cylinder, apiston reciprocable in the cylinder, means connecting the roller to thepiston for simultaneous interdependent movement, means for maintaining auid under constant pressure in the end of the cylinder away from theroller, means for maintaining the other end of the cylinder full ofliquid during displacement of the piston away from the roller, and meansfor preventing any appreciable reduction in vol' ume of the licuid insaid other end of the cylinder during the winding.

10. In a winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a movably mounted pressure roller adapted to bear againstthe winding periphery, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in thecylinder, means connecting the roller to the piston for simultaneous,interdependent movement, means for maintaining a uid under constantpressure in the end of the cylinder away from the roller, a liquidsupply reservoir above the cylinder, a conduit from the reservoir to theend of the cylinder toward the roller, and a check valve in the conduitpermitting flow of liquid from the reservoir to the cyl- 1i-)nder butpreventing now in the opposite direcion.

11. In a warping machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a rotatable pressure roller adapted to bear against thewinding periphery adjacent the position of accretion, means for mountingthe element and roller for relative movement to vary the distancebetween their axes, constant pressure fluid means for urging the rollerperiphery against the winding periphery, and hydraulic means forpreventing relative movement of the roller and element toward each otherduring displacement by virtue of increasing diameter of winding on therotatable element.

12. In a warping machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a support, mounting means pivotally connected to the supporta pressure roller mounted rotatably in the mounting means whereby thepressure roller is swingable toward and away from the element, constantpressure fluid means for urging the roller periphery against the windingperiphery of the rotatable element, and hydraulic means for preventingreturn movement of the pressure roller during its displacement by virtueo increasing diameter of winding on the rotatable element.

13. In a warping machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a movably mounted pressure roller adapted to bear againstthe winding periphery adjacent the position of accretion, a cylinder, apiston reciprocable in the cylinder, means connecting the roller to thepiston for simultaneous interdependent movement, means for maintaining aHuid under constant pressure in the end of the cylinder away from theroller, means for maintaining the other end of the cylinder full ofliquid during displacement of the piston away from the roller, and meansfor preventing any appreciable reduction in volume of the liquid in saidother end of the cylinder during the winding.

14. In a warping machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a movably mounted pressure roller adapted to bear againstthe winding periphery, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable in thecylinder, means connecting the roller to the piston for simultaneousinterdependent movement, means for maintaining a gaseous fiuid underconstant pressure in the end of the cylinder away from the roller, meansfor maintaining the other end of the cylinder full of liquid duringdisplacement of the piston away from the roller, and means forpreventing any appreciable reduction in volume of the liquid in saidother end of the cylinder during the winding.

15. The machine of claim 1 in which the pressure roller presses thewinding periphery adjacent the position of accretion.

16. The machine of claim 3 in which the pressure roller presses thewinding periphery adjacent the position of accretion.

17. The machine of claim 4 in which the pressure roller presses thewinding periphery adjacent the position of accretion.

18. In a winding machine, a rotatable element for receiving a windingthereabout, a rotatable pressure roller adapted to bear-against thewinding periphery, means for mounting the element and roller forrelative movement to vary the distance between their axes, constantpressure means for urging the roller periphery against the windingperiphery, and hydraulic means for preventing relative movement of theroller and element toward each other during displacement by virtue ofincreasing diameter of winding on the rotatable element.

ERNEST K. BAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,463,181 Vorderwinkler July 31,1923 1,787,323 Reiners Dec. 30, 1930 1,795,506 Reiners et al Mar. 10,1931 2,196,000 Richardson Apr. 2, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 100,720 Sweden Jan. 21, 1941 301.903 Great Britain May 9, 1929414,396 great Britain Aug. 2, 1934

